"Emergency Quota" for Train Reservations

The foreign tourist quota for major trains is well known. But not all trains have foreign tourist quotas. What to do then if you need to get on a specific train?

I recently had that experience. I was in Allahabad. I needed to get on train 2308 Jodhpur to Howrah Express. There were many trains that arrived in Howrah early in the morning. But only 2308 would arrive at 4.20 am, leaving a sufficient margin to get my flight at 9.15 am. There were only waiting list places available. Here's how I jumped the queue:

First, I went to the station master at Allahabad station. He directed me to the Reservations Supervisor. Opened the back door to the office, went inside and introduced myself. (Avoid the ticket windows.) The Reservations Supervisor was very helpful. He gave me a waiting list ticket and directed me the DRM office (pronounced Day Are Em), Divisional Railway Manager office, a 5 rupee rickshaw ride away. I was assured I would get a place on the emergency quota.

At the DRM office I was directed to the Commercial Section. I presented my ticket and was given a form to fill in. "That's all. Check your name on the reservation list tomorrow".

Sure enough, next day I was on the said train. And sure enough, the train was 2 hours late, leaving a comfortable margin to get to the airport.

Yep, same thing happened to us in Ernakulam back in November. We had an urgent need to travel 2 days earlier than we had booked (over the Diwahli holiday). The Reservations Supervisor couldn't have been more helpful. Went to the reservation office at 2pm. After a couple of phone calls he asked us to come back at 6, at which time he had secured us 2 berths from the emergency quota.

Old thread but i need a small clarification. Do the Internet booked Waitlisted ticket qualify for the emergency quota? I am confused whether the chart is prepared after the emergency quota is filled. If not then, will that qualify because Internet waitlisted tickets get automatically refunded right?

Originally Posted by varadOld thread but i need a small clarification. Do the Internet booked Waitlisted ticket qualify for the emergency quota? I am confused whether the chart is prepared after the emergency quota is filled. If not then, will that qualify because Internet waitlisted tickets get automatically refunded right?

An interesting question.

Emergency quota ends the SECOND the chart is prepared, and remember, a train that departs before midday sometimes has it's reservation chart prepared by 17:00 the day before.

Also, a refund for an Internet booked ticket won't even begin until the reservation chart is prepared.

So that's the timings.

Can an Internet booked ticket be used when applying for the emergency quota? likely, but I don't know for sure, but I'm struggling to think of a reason why it couldn't.

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